http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

Handling injuries, illnesses and death in a flock can be made less stressful by having information and supplies readily available. Have a well-stocked first aid kit & infirmary set up. Have a euthanasia plan; most vets will euthanize a sick or injured chicken even if theydo not routinely treat chickens.

Euthanasia by Cervical Dislocation
In my experience, the fastest, least gruesome and most humane method of euthanasia is cervical dislocation or “breaking” the chicken’s neck, which causes instant unconsciousness and death. While holding the chicken under non-dominant arm like a football, press its body very securely against your side. Place your dominant hand on top of the bird’s head with with your thumb at the base of the skull behind the head, fingers wrapping underneath the throat. With a very firm grip, quickly and firmly stretch and pull the head straight forward, away from the body while bending the neck up towards its back until a popping sound is heard, which signals the separation of the vertibrae and instant death. Continue to hold the bird securely until nerve activity has stopped.

Find an avian veterinarian nearby and keep their phone number in your chicken first aid kit.

A list of board certified avian vets can be found HERE.

Join me on Pinterest where I have a board dedicated to veterinarians who treat chickens!

Join me on Pinterest where I have a board dedicated to veterinarians who treat chickens!

Always contact your state animal diagnostic/pathology lab when a bird dies unexpectedly to schedule a necropsy to determine the cause of death. Some illnesses and diseases are contagious and the rest of the flock may be at risk. Each state lab is listed in red, below.

Instructions for preparing and storing a chicken for post mortem examination can be found here.

The USDA’s Veterinary Services offers a disease diagnostics consulting service with a veterinarian, free of charge. To speak with a USDA vet in your region, call 1-866-536-7593

The Kuddly app provides access to verified veterinarians around the world for a nominal fee. Poultry Veterinarian Dr. Annika McKillop is a participating poultry specialist on the Kuddly app.

There’s an app for that?! The Kuddly app provides access to verified veterinarians around the world for a nominal fee. Poultry Veterinarian Dr. Annika McKillop is a participating poultry specialist on the Kuddly app. Get more information about this app HERE.

ALABAMA

  • Auburn University: http://bit.ly/1bURc8c (334) 844-2345
  • Ag. & Animal Diagnostic Laboratory: http://1.usa.gov/1AwKzoM (334) 321-8700
  • State Animal Official: Dr. Anthony G. Frazier, State Veterinarian, 1445 Federal Drive Montgomery, AL 36107, (334) 240-7255 (344) 240-7198, tony.frazier@agi.alabama.gov

ALASKA

http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

ARIZONA

ARKANSAS

  • Arkansas Extension Office List – By County: http://bit.ly/1PL6ZUt
  • Veterinary Diagnostic Lab of the Arkansas Livestock & Poultry Commission: http://1.usa.gov/1JNy9bH, (501) 907-2430
  • State Animal Official: Dr. George Badley, State Veterinarian, P.O Box 8505, 1 Natural Resources Dr., Little Rock, AR Little Rock, AR 72205, (501) 907-2400 (501) 907-2425, pbadley@alpc.ar.gov

http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

CALIFORNIA

COLORADO

CONNECTICUT

http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

DELAWARE

FLORIDA

GEORGIA

  • College of Ag. and Environmental Science: http://bit.ly/1JNz0sV
  • Georgia Poultry Laboratory: http://bit.ly/1A513nV, (770) 535-5996
  • Tifton Diagnostic and Investigational Laboratory: http://bit.ly/1L7AdMJ, (229) 386-3340
  • State Animal Official: Dr. Robert Cobb, State Veterinarian, 19 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., SW Atlanta, GA 30334-4201, (404) 656-3671, Robert.cobb@agr.georgia.gov

HAWAII

http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

IDAHO

ILLINOIS

  • Centralia Animal Disease Laboratory: http://bit.ly/1H7lXzz (309) 344-2451
  • Galesburg Animal Disease Laboratory: http://bit.ly/1Ponefo (309) 344-2451
  • State Animal Official: Dr. Mark Ernst, State Veterinarian, P.O. Box 19281 Springfield, IL 62794-9281, 801 E. Sangamon Ave., State Fairgrounds Springfield, IL 62794-9281, (217) 782-4944 (217) 558-6033, mark.ernst@Illinois.gov

INDIANA

IOWA

KANSAS

http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

KENTUCKY

LOUISIANA

  • Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory: http://bit.ly/1ELOAAR, (225) 578-9777
  • State Animal Official: Dr. Brent Robbins, State Veterinarian, P.O. Box 1951 Baton Rouge, LA 70821, 5825 Florida Boulevard, Rm 1262 Baton Rouge, LA 70806, (225) 925-3962 (225) 237-5555, brobbins@ldaf.la.gov

MAINE

MARYLAND

http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

MASSACHUSETTS

MICHIGAN

  • Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health: http://bit.ly/1HirTbC
  • State Animal Official: Dr. Steven L. Halstead, State Veterinarian, P.O. Box 30017 Lansing, MI 48909, 525 W. Allegan Lansing, MI 48933, (517) 373-1077 (517) 241-4502, halsteads@michigan.gov

MINNESOTA

MISSISSIPPI

  • Dept. of Poultry Science: http://bit.ly/1B1FO0Q (662) 325-3416
  • Diagnostic Laboratory System: http://www.cvm.msstate.edu/animal-health-center/diagnostic-labs
  • State Animal Official: Dr. James A. Watson, State Veterinarian, P.O. Box 3889 Jackson, MS 39207, 121 N. Jefferson St. Jackson, MS 39201, (601) 359-1170 (601) 35-1177, jimw@mdac.state.ms.us

MISSOURI

MONTANA

NEBRASKA

http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

NEVADA

NEW HAMPSHIRE

  • Uni. Of NH Animal Science: http://bit.ly/1EMhthj (603) 862-2758
  • New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory: http://bit.ly/1Poo7o6 (603) 862-2726
  • State Animal Official: Dr. Stephen K. Crawford, State Veterinarian, P.O. Box 204 Concord, NH 03302-2042, State House Annex, 2nd Floor 25 Capitol St. Concord, NH 03229, (603) 271-2404 (603) 271-1109, Stephen.crawford@agr.nh.gov

NEW JERSEY

NEW MEXICO

http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

NEW YORK

NORTH CAROLINA

NORTH DAKOTA

http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

OHIO

OKLAHOMA

OREGON

PENNSYLVANIA

RHODE ISLAND

http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

SOUTH CAROLINA

  • Animal and Veterinary Sciences http://bit.ly/1e5LUZp (864) 656-3428
  • Veterinary Diagnostic Center: http://bit.ly/1L7CUxR (803) 726-7831
  • State Animal Official: Dr. Boyd Parr, State Veterinarian, P.O. Box 102406 Columbia, SC 29224-2406, 500 Clemson Rd. Columbia, SC 29229, (803) 788-226 (803) 788-8058, bparr@clemson.edu

SOUTH DAKOTA

  • South Dakota Animal Disease Research & Diagnostic Laboratory: http://www.sdstate.edu/veterinary-biomedical-sciences/animal-disease-research-and-diagnostic-laboratory
  • State Animal Official: Dr. Dustin Oedekoven, State Veterinarian, 411 S. Fort St. Pierre, SD 57501, (605) 773-3321 (605) 773-5459, dustin.oedekoven@state.sd.us

TENNESSEE

  • University of Tennessee County Extension Offices: http://bit.ly/1ExtEny (865) 974-7286
  • Kord Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory: http://www.tn.gov/agriculture/article/ag-businesses-diagnostic-lab
  • State Animal Official: Dr. Charles Hatcher, State Veterinarian, P.O. Box 40627 Nashville, TN 37204, 440 Hogan Road Nashville, TN 37220, (615) 837-5120 (615) 837-5250, Charles.hatches@tn.gov

http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

TEXAS

UTAH

VIRGINIA

VERMONT

  • Dept. of Animal and Veterinary Science: http://bit.ly/1IapC4c (802) 656-2070
  • Animal Health Laboratory: http://agriculture.vermont.gov/vael
  • State Animal Official: Dr. Kristin M. Haas, State Veterinarian, 116 State St. Montpelier, VT 05602-2901, (802) 828-2426 (802) 828-5983, Kristin.Haas@state.vt.us

WASHINGTON

  • Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab: http://bit.ly/1KSsHVd
  • State Animal Official: Dr. Leonard Eldridge, State Veterinarian, P.O. Box 42560 Olympia, WA 98504-2577, 1111 Washington Street Natural Resources Bldg. Olympia, WA 98504-2577, (360) 902-1878, http://1.usa.gov/1bUYDw6, (360) 902-1881 (360) 902-2087, leldridge@agr.wa.gov

WISCONSIN

WEST VIRGINIA

  • Dept. of Ag.: http://bit.ly/1Ea25JS, Call this number & ask for necropsy instructions: (304) 558-2206
  • West Virginia Department of Agriculture Animal Health Division, 60 B Moorefield Industrial Park Rd, Moorefield, WV 26836, Phone: (304) 538-2397
  • State Animal Official: Dr. Jewell Plumley, State Veterinarian, 60B Moorefield Industrial Park Rd Moorefield, WV 26836, (304) 538-2397 (304) 558-2214 (304) 538-8133, jplumley@wvda.us

WYOMING

  • County Dept. List: http://bit.ly/1GcZYuV
  • Veterinary Laboratory: http://bit.ly/1FiPSb4
  • State Animal Official: Dr. Jim Logan, State Veterinarian, 610 Fairgrounds Rd. Riverton, WY 82501, Main Office: 1934 Wyott Dr. Cheyenne, WY 82002, (307) 777-7515 (307) 857-4140 (307) 857-6380, jim.logan@wyo.gov

http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

Kathy Shea Mormino

Affectionately known internationally as The Chicken Chick®, Kathy Shea Mormino shares a fun-loving, informative style to raising backyard chickens. …Read on

shop my SPONSORS



http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

Handling injuries, illnesses and death in a flock can be made less stressful by having information and supplies readily available. Have a well-stocked first aid kit & infirmary set up. Have a euthanasia plan; most vets will euthanize a sick or injured chicken even if theydo not routinely treat chickens.

Euthanasia by Cervical Dislocation
In my experience, the fastest, least gruesome and most humane method of euthanasia is cervical dislocation or “breaking” the chicken’s neck, which causes instant unconsciousness and death. While holding the chicken under non-dominant arm like a football, press its body very securely against your side. Place your dominant hand on top of the bird’s head with with your thumb at the base of the skull behind the head, fingers wrapping underneath the throat. With a very firm grip, quickly and firmly stretch and pull the head straight forward, away from the body while bending the neck up towards its back until a popping sound is heard, which signals the separation of the vertibrae and instant death. Continue to hold the bird securely until nerve activity has stopped.

Find an avian veterinarian nearby and keep their phone number in your chicken first aid kit.

A list of board certified avian vets can be found HERE.

Join me on Pinterest where I have a board dedicated to veterinarians who treat chickens!

Join me on Pinterest where I have a board dedicated to veterinarians who treat chickens!

Always contact your state animal diagnostic/pathology lab when a bird dies unexpectedly to schedule a necropsy to determine the cause of death. Some illnesses and diseases are contagious and the rest of the flock may be at risk. Each state lab is listed in red, below.

Instructions for preparing and storing a chicken for post mortem examination can be found here.

The USDA’s Veterinary Services offers a disease diagnostics consulting service with a veterinarian, free of charge. To speak with a USDA vet in your region, call 1-866-536-7593

The Kuddly app provides access to verified veterinarians around the world for a nominal fee. Poultry Veterinarian Dr. Annika McKillop is a participating poultry specialist on the Kuddly app.

There’s an app for that?! The Kuddly app provides access to verified veterinarians around the world for a nominal fee. Poultry Veterinarian Dr. Annika McKillop is a participating poultry specialist on the Kuddly app. Get more information about this app HERE.

ALABAMA

  • Auburn University: http://bit.ly/1bURc8c (334) 844-2345
  • Ag. & Animal Diagnostic Laboratory: http://1.usa.gov/1AwKzoM (334) 321-8700
  • State Animal Official: Dr. Anthony G. Frazier, State Veterinarian, 1445 Federal Drive Montgomery, AL 36107, (334) 240-7255 (344) 240-7198, tony.frazier@agi.alabama.gov

ALASKA

http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

ARIZONA

ARKANSAS

  • Arkansas Extension Office List – By County: http://bit.ly/1PL6ZUt
  • Veterinary Diagnostic Lab of the Arkansas Livestock & Poultry Commission: http://1.usa.gov/1JNy9bH, (501) 907-2430
  • State Animal Official: Dr. George Badley, State Veterinarian, P.O Box 8505, 1 Natural Resources Dr., Little Rock, AR Little Rock, AR 72205, (501) 907-2400 (501) 907-2425, pbadley@alpc.ar.gov

http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

CALIFORNIA

COLORADO

CONNECTICUT

http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

DELAWARE

FLORIDA

GEORGIA

  • College of Ag. and Environmental Science: http://bit.ly/1JNz0sV
  • Georgia Poultry Laboratory: http://bit.ly/1A513nV, (770) 535-5996
  • Tifton Diagnostic and Investigational Laboratory: http://bit.ly/1L7AdMJ, (229) 386-3340
  • State Animal Official: Dr. Robert Cobb, State Veterinarian, 19 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., SW Atlanta, GA 30334-4201, (404) 656-3671, Robert.cobb@agr.georgia.gov

HAWAII

http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

IDAHO

ILLINOIS

  • Centralia Animal Disease Laboratory: http://bit.ly/1H7lXzz (309) 344-2451
  • Galesburg Animal Disease Laboratory: http://bit.ly/1Ponefo (309) 344-2451
  • State Animal Official: Dr. Mark Ernst, State Veterinarian, P.O. Box 19281 Springfield, IL 62794-9281, 801 E. Sangamon Ave., State Fairgrounds Springfield, IL 62794-9281, (217) 782-4944 (217) 558-6033, mark.ernst@Illinois.gov

INDIANA

IOWA

KANSAS

http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

KENTUCKY

LOUISIANA

  • Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory: http://bit.ly/1ELOAAR, (225) 578-9777
  • State Animal Official: Dr. Brent Robbins, State Veterinarian, P.O. Box 1951 Baton Rouge, LA 70821, 5825 Florida Boulevard, Rm 1262 Baton Rouge, LA 70806, (225) 925-3962 (225) 237-5555, brobbins@ldaf.la.gov

MAINE

MARYLAND

http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

MASSACHUSETTS

MICHIGAN

  • Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health: http://bit.ly/1HirTbC
  • State Animal Official: Dr. Steven L. Halstead, State Veterinarian, P.O. Box 30017 Lansing, MI 48909, 525 W. Allegan Lansing, MI 48933, (517) 373-1077 (517) 241-4502, halsteads@michigan.gov

MINNESOTA

MISSISSIPPI

  • Dept. of Poultry Science: http://bit.ly/1B1FO0Q (662) 325-3416
  • Diagnostic Laboratory System: http://www.cvm.msstate.edu/animal-health-center/diagnostic-labs
  • State Animal Official: Dr. James A. Watson, State Veterinarian, P.O. Box 3889 Jackson, MS 39207, 121 N. Jefferson St. Jackson, MS 39201, (601) 359-1170 (601) 35-1177, jimw@mdac.state.ms.us

MISSOURI

MONTANA

NEBRASKA

http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

NEVADA

NEW HAMPSHIRE

  • Uni. Of NH Animal Science: http://bit.ly/1EMhthj (603) 862-2758
  • New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory: http://bit.ly/1Poo7o6 (603) 862-2726
  • State Animal Official: Dr. Stephen K. Crawford, State Veterinarian, P.O. Box 204 Concord, NH 03302-2042, State House Annex, 2nd Floor 25 Capitol St. Concord, NH 03229, (603) 271-2404 (603) 271-1109, Stephen.crawford@agr.nh.gov

NEW JERSEY

NEW MEXICO

http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

NEW YORK

NORTH CAROLINA

NORTH DAKOTA

http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

OHIO

OKLAHOMA

OREGON

PENNSYLVANIA

RHODE ISLAND

http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

SOUTH CAROLINA

  • Animal and Veterinary Sciences http://bit.ly/1e5LUZp (864) 656-3428
  • Veterinary Diagnostic Center: http://bit.ly/1L7CUxR (803) 726-7831
  • State Animal Official: Dr. Boyd Parr, State Veterinarian, P.O. Box 102406 Columbia, SC 29224-2406, 500 Clemson Rd. Columbia, SC 29229, (803) 788-226 (803) 788-8058, bparr@clemson.edu

SOUTH DAKOTA

  • South Dakota Animal Disease Research & Diagnostic Laboratory: http://www.sdstate.edu/veterinary-biomedical-sciences/animal-disease-research-and-diagnostic-laboratory
  • State Animal Official: Dr. Dustin Oedekoven, State Veterinarian, 411 S. Fort St. Pierre, SD 57501, (605) 773-3321 (605) 773-5459, dustin.oedekoven@state.sd.us

TENNESSEE

  • University of Tennessee County Extension Offices: http://bit.ly/1ExtEny (865) 974-7286
  • Kord Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory: http://www.tn.gov/agriculture/article/ag-businesses-diagnostic-lab
  • State Animal Official: Dr. Charles Hatcher, State Veterinarian, P.O. Box 40627 Nashville, TN 37204, 440 Hogan Road Nashville, TN 37220, (615) 837-5120 (615) 837-5250, Charles.hatches@tn.gov

http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

TEXAS

UTAH

VIRGINIA

VERMONT

  • Dept. of Animal and Veterinary Science: http://bit.ly/1IapC4c (802) 656-2070
  • Animal Health Laboratory: http://agriculture.vermont.gov/vael
  • State Animal Official: Dr. Kristin M. Haas, State Veterinarian, 116 State St. Montpelier, VT 05602-2901, (802) 828-2426 (802) 828-5983, Kristin.Haas@state.vt.us

WASHINGTON

  • Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab: http://bit.ly/1KSsHVd
  • State Animal Official: Dr. Leonard Eldridge, State Veterinarian, P.O. Box 42560 Olympia, WA 98504-2577, 1111 Washington Street Natural Resources Bldg. Olympia, WA 98504-2577, (360) 902-1878, http://1.usa.gov/1bUYDw6, (360) 902-1881 (360) 902-2087, leldridge@agr.wa.gov

WISCONSIN

WEST VIRGINIA

  • Dept. of Ag.: http://bit.ly/1Ea25JS, Call this number & ask for necropsy instructions: (304) 558-2206
  • West Virginia Department of Agriculture Animal Health Division, 60 B Moorefield Industrial Park Rd, Moorefield, WV 26836, Phone: (304) 538-2397
  • State Animal Official: Dr. Jewell Plumley, State Veterinarian, 60B Moorefield Industrial Park Rd Moorefield, WV 26836, (304) 538-2397 (304) 558-2214 (304) 538-8133, jplumley@wvda.us

WYOMING

  • County Dept. List: http://bit.ly/1GcZYuV
  • Veterinary Laboratory: http://bit.ly/1FiPSb4
  • State Animal Official: Dr. Jim Logan, State Veterinarian, 610 Fairgrounds Rd. Riverton, WY 82501, Main Office: 1934 Wyott Dr. Cheyenne, WY 82002, (307) 777-7515 (307) 857-4140 (307) 857-6380, jim.logan@wyo.gov

http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

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